Become empowe(RED)

As hopefully some of you know, today, 1 December, is World AIDS day. Possibly you saw some people wearing Red ribbons, maybe you have even seen the Gap (RED) line or other products, maybe you even wore a red ribbon. I hope so. If not, keep an eye out for them and if you are in the market for a new iPod, mobile phone, or hoodie, you can put some good behind your dollar (or pound!)and buy (RED). I went out to get the Independent, a UK newspaper, that has turned their edition red today for World AIDS Day. Many of the articles are about Africa, AIDS (naturally), Stories of people living with AIDS, and movements within the UK to fight AIDS, and the prejudices that go with it. Pretty sweet. I am hoping to get down to the Gap in city centre tomorrow to see the (RED)line that has come out recently, where half of the proceeds go to The Global Fund. the RED movement has raised over $10million dollars, used to decrease the price of medicines in Rwanda and Swaziland. Antiretrovirals are available at most corner shops in Africa, but at just $1 a day, people are too poor to afford them. RED is changing this. As is the Clinton Foundation.

The Global Fund is an innovative partnership of governments, non-profit organizations, and the private sector, working together to rid the world of AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. Its sole purpose is to raise funds and make grants to countries, organizations, and communities that urgently need financial help to allow them to respond to these epidemics. How sweet. I think one of the coolest things about this movement is they strive to eradicate AIDS not just reduce it or help one or two countries. What a goal and what a movement. To find out more about the products in the (RED) line and to get inspi(RED) -sorry been looking at a lot of (RED) advertising haha- check out www.joinred.com

On a somewhat similar note, atl east the Red thing, I gave blood yesterday for the first time in my life. A fellow volunteer at Newington Day centre has been a long time donor and with the blood supply in Northern Ireland running low, they asked her if she could recruit any new donors. She asked me and without thinking, I said yes. I was a little nervous, that I would faint or get sick, or something else terribly embarrassing, but it went well. I think the doctor liked me because she kept coming to check on me, either that or I gave off the I'm clueless and nervous, baby me vibe. I hope it was the former : )

As I lied with a big needle and blood running into the bag, my view was of a poster that read 94% of people in Northern Ireland don't give blood. Wow. What a huge percent of the population, missing out on an easy way to make a difference. I have been trying to find statistics on American blood donation but I can't. Giving blood, unlike most of my work here was an easy way for me to see that I was actually making a difference, giving something to the community-in this case a red bag. Also, its pretty cool to think that I am leaving a part of me in Northern Ireland. I also learned that down south in the Repub they used to give donors a pint of Guinness after they were done, replaces the iron. Haha. Only Ireland.

So Happy AIDS Day. I think I might watch RENT tonight, to be reminded of the realities of the disease, and of course to sing at the top of my lungs. Maybe you'll get inspired (I'll spare you this time with the (RED)) to make a donation, talk to your kids, buy a (RED) product, or find your own way to make a difference! All for the love of people, and Africa!